Daves BVC Fan Site

 

 For years now I've been a user of speech recognition, (sometimes referred to as voice recognition) Home Automation. This allows me to speak to my computer, and get voice notices and warnings in return. As well as control my lighting and other Home Automation devices, like security cameras.

Using Voice command and control in combination with my X10 Home Automation products and devices (like lighting). This has always been a Star-Trek like vision of the future. And, more recently (and less famously) the self-aware Smart Home SARAH as portrayed on the cable TV series Eureka.  

Although movie and TV science fiction has always spurred real life creativity I think Home Automation may be best suited to imitate the art that these series have portrayed.  

The improved computer processing speeds, and user created software like Bill's Voice Commander has made this possible today. I have been using Voice Command for home lighting and more since late 2006. And I am not even using any state-of-the-art equipment ether.

I run a HA PC [Home Automation Computer] 24/7. But it's an old P3 with an XP Home operating system. However, I did bump-up the RAM with some I picked up from a flea market. My whole-house microphone system (that allows me to speak to the computer) is simply  hacked (cheapest I could find) baby monitors.

Whether you need or want voice control for X10 lights, appliance modules, security, infra red (IR remote controls) or just plain fun, Bill's Voice Commander (aka: BVC) is an awesome and easily affordable solution. 

The free trail shareware download is completely functional (it has a nag) for both X10 home automation products and electronic equipment (TV's, Stereo's, DVD and VCR) with normal IR remote controls. Or donate to wgjohns.com and receive the nag-less version (my recommendation).

 

 

  BVC which is a Microsoft  Windows based (XP or Vista) compatible software, and is now available from wgjohns.com as a free trial shareware download. I use BVC for home automation. The voice announcements let me know what is going on around the home, that might other-wise go unnoticed. And with the use of X10 home automation I can control my environment with spoken commands. I made a YouTube video that gives a short demo of how I am using BVC  [below].

 

 

  The use of Home Automation is limited... only by our imaginations.

Dave         

I have recently expanded my quest for sci-fi like Home Automation by using Occupancy Sensing within my home. I am now using the Eureka [more home centric] model. And I am creating macros that better allow my setup to respond to my being there [or not]. I am calling this new concept S.A.R.A. (Smart Articulate Responsive Automation). Of course... SARA has her own Web Page.

 

 

 

  See my other Home Automation Videos at   my YouTube Channel Click Here.

  The control of the lighting and similar equipment requires an X10 computer interface called an AHP (Active Home Pro), and X10 modules, switches, plugs. For the control of IR devices a USB-UIRT (IR USB device) is required. Both can be found and/or purchased through Bill's Web Site. 

I got started with X10 when I built my Home Theater. I used X10 lighting control to automatically dim and brighten the lighting for movie watching. The X10 lighting gave me the WOW factor I was looking for. And whereas I do still enjoy the Home Theater movies. I soon found myself hooked on Home Automation.

  Eventually I ended up at the X10 forums looking for new ideas on how to expand my home automation system. That's where I found Bill's Voice Commander with the speech recognition control. I searched for an affordable solution to the multiple microphone problem (for whole-home voice control). 

I have posted several useful links at the X10 forums as well as Bill's own BVC Forum. If you are interested in a voice command experience, or life style, or even just good Home Automation you may find some of them interesting.

I've been pursuing Home Automation for a few years now (my automation setup is never complete). And I have to admit it has been a heck of a lot of fun. I recently have been asked to make some videos for a new Home Automation Site called This Automated House (thisautomatedhouse.com).

Although very new and still in development I expect to see big things from this new Site in the near future.

Another way to learn more about Voice Controlled Home Automation... or HA in general. Visit KDR's Home Automation Chat Rooms. You'll find live and cheerful chat... most evenings.